The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1887-05-28

aE IRISH STANDARD:
than coquettish way of leaning for
ward, with the eyes cast down, while
listening to soft nonsense from fav-
ored swain), were peculiar and private.
The only way in which the male sex
could obtain glimpse at such Eleu-
sinian mysteries was by taking re-
cumbent position on the roof of the
house, carefully removing small por.
ton of the thatch, and using eyes and
ears in that situation to the best advan-
tage. If detected by the irate maidens,
the spy would run a fair chance of
scratched face and well boxed ears.
AS might be expected. the country
ancing-mast ,r sometimes had stupid
and refractory pupils. There was a
common method Of giving them instruc.
tion, which, for its practical simplicity
may be worth relating. When the pupil
would persist in not recollecting which
foot was to be used, at particular pc
RODS, the dancing master would take a
rope made of twisted hay, called a sug.
gaun, and fasten it around one of the
delinquent's ankles. He would then
take similar bracelet of twisted will
low, denominated CAD, and put this
on the other. Then, instead of direct
ing the pupil to the particular use or
motion of the right leg or the left, he
would exclaim. "Rise upon suggaun,"
or ''Sink upon CAD, and in this manner
convey his instructions beyond a posi-
bllity of mistake by even the most
stupid!
Of course, where there was large COM
pany of young people, full of life and
spirit, under pupilage to not young
instructor, variety of practical jokes
would be perpetrated, at his expense,
every now and then. They were almost
Invariably of good-natured kind. One,
which might be considered as to ''be
repeated every night until farther no.
tice." generally came off towards the
end of the evening. A joyous, light
hearted damsel would suddenly start
up, while the music was playing, and.
placing herself before the dancing.
master, with that particular description
of curtsey called "a bob,' silently chal-
lenge him to dance with her. Now, un-
der all circumstances, except actual in
ability to move, the gentleman so chal-
lenged has nothing to do but pick up
the gauntlet, and stake the flure. -
Then, challenger and challenged would
commence an Irish jig-a dance so yio-
lent that, writing in the dog-days as l
do, the very recollection of it makes me
feel as if the barometer was some two
hundred in the shade. When the dam
sci had pretty well tired herself, one of
her fair friends would take her place,
and so on until a round dozen or so had
had their turn. All this time, the
doomed victim of man had to continue
dancing-and the point of honor was to
do so, without giving in, as long as
strength and wind lasted. The COM
pany would gather round. forming a
ring for the performers, and the word
would be, ION with the dance'' Gas it
was, at Brussels, on the eve OF Water
loo), until, at last some male spectator
would pityingly dash into the circle.
take the tired mans place, and permit
the breathless and exhausted victim to
totter to seat, gasping out a protest,
as he did, thas he could have held out
for half an hour longer, and wondered
why any gentleman should interfere
with another gentleman's divarshun.
In the preceding story of 1.-The Petri-
fed Piper" mention is made of a dane
ing-master commonly known as could
Lynch" He was an original. in many
respects, and, like many of his profess
sion, was in a constant flutter of faded
finery and actual poverty. He was so
much a character that my father took
rather fancy 20 him, and had him often
at the house, as teacher Of dancing, in
the we'll populated town of Fermoy. He
had small chance of earning What would
keep life and soul together. But he was
quiet, unassuming man, better edu-
Gated than most Of his class, and full OF
anecdote. One social virtue he emf
nently possessed was one Of the best
back CANNON players l ever saw, and
II speak it modestly.) was very fond Of
me as a pupil.
Lynch was County Limerick man,
on. the confines of 1.-The Kingdom Of
Kerry" and Informed me that, in the
parish where he was brought up, the
natives had a passion for backgammon,
and were wont, on high-days and holi-
days. to hold tournaments Ion their
favorite game) with the inhabitants of
the next parish, in Kerry. Unfor-
tunately, one day when great trial of
skill was appointed to come off, it